Adjustable seat shield



April 17, 1934. E. WITTCOFF ADJUSTABLE SEAT SHIELD 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 11 ssmm i mm' W ln'uanumaazazza'z-am April 17, 1934.

-E. WITTCOFF 1,955,040 ADJUSTABLE SEAT SHIELD Filed July 11, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 :iiiiiiiiiin 0 vide a shield wherein the seat and back portions are interchangeable with respect to each other in order that the different coverings thereof maybe Patented Apr. I7, 1934 Umrso STATES PATENT OFFlCE 3 Claims.

lhis invention relates to improvements in seatv covers or shields, and more particularly, to that type of device commonly used in connection with the seat and back cushions of the seats of motor driven vehicles, frequently characterized as a pad, though as will be understood, its scope of usage is in no manner limited to such an adaption, the invention having for an object to provide a shield which is equipped with diilerent characters of coverings or surfaces and being so constructed that such coverings or combinations thereof may be optionally exposed when the device is to be used.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a shield which by simple adjustment can be extended or increased in size in order that when desired, the same may be efficiently used to cover or shield a seat, back or cushion area greater in size than that for which it is adapted for normal use.

Yet another object of the invention is to proused in combinations either when said shield is of its normal size or when the same has been ex-.

tended, say for double usage.

Amongst other aims and objects of the invention there may be recited the provision of a device of the character stated which is of simple and durable construction and which, by reason of such construction and the mode of interconnection or assembly of the co-functioning elements thereof, may be manufactured and sold at a materially reduced cost.

- Other objects of the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In. order that the invention and its mode of operation may be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains, I have in the accompanying drawings and in the detailed description based thereupon, set out one possible embodiment of my invention.

In these drawings: .Figure l is a perspective viewof the improved -shield illustrating one mode of usage thereof,

Figure '5 is a fragmentary-transverse section through the seat cushions of the shield, showing the same in reversed relative positioning with respect to that position illustrated in the Figure 3,

Figures 6, 6 6 and 6 present a number of semi-schematic showings of the shield, illustrating different modes of usage thereby, whereby difi'erent characters of materials or combinations thereof are exposed,

Figure '7 is a transverse section taken on the line 7--'7 of the Figure 2, looking in the direction in which the arrows point,

Figure 8 is a similar section but wherein the positioning of the seat covers have been reversed with respect to that illustrated in the Figure 7,

Figure 9 is a transverse section through the back sections of the shield, when the same is in an extended position,

Figure 10 is a like view but wherein the positioning of the back sections have been reversed with respect to that shown in the Figure 9, so that the fabric surfaces thereof are exposed, and,

Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 9, wherein one of the back sections is shown reversed in its positioning with respect to the complemental section, whereby a combination of matting and fab- 30 ric surfaces-are exposed thereby. I

Having more particular reference to the drawings, in connection with which like characters of reference will designate corresponding parts throughout, the device comprises sheet-like bodies curing said material thereto, as indicated by the numeral'7. Also, it is preferable that rows of stitching 8 shall be effected through and over the intermediate portions of each of the sections 1 and 2, hence, effectually interconnecting the straw matting and fabric pieces of each.

A row of eyelets, such as designated by the numerals 9 and 10 is arranged in the normally outer side portion of each of the sections 1 and 2, the purpose of which will be subsequently de scribed.

In order that the seat and back sections 1 and 2 may be relatively interconnected, I stitch to one face of the normally inner or rearward side of the section 1, a flap or strip 11 which is adapted to be extended rearwardly into overlapping engagement with the adjacent side of the section 2; connection between the flap 11 and the section 2 being effected by means of separable fastener devices or snap fasteners, portions of which are carried upon the free marginal part of the flap 11, while the opposite and co-operating portions of said fasteners are fixed to adjacent side portion of the section 1, the devices being generally indicated by the numeral 12. If desired, this flap 11 may be formed of elastic material, though, of course, inelastic material may be likewise used therefor. The fiap, obviously, serves as a means of effecting a hinged or swingable connection between the seat section 1 and its back section 2, hence, insuring retention of said elements of the device in proper assembled relation during usage. Also, it is preferable that the opposite side portion of the back section 2 shall be provided with a series of transversely disposed separable fastener elements 12, said elements being arranged upon the opposite surface of the section and being adapted to receive the companionate or co-operating fastener elements carried upon the flap 11, whereby the arrangement or positioning of the section 2 may be changed, at times, with respect to the section 1, or vice versa,

i as is more fully hereinafter described.

A second sheet-like body seat section 1, complemental to the section 1 is provided the construction and as will be noted upon reference to the Figures 2 and 3, this complemental section is constructed of relatively imposed straw matting and fabric pieces 3 and 5, fixedly interconnected by engaging binding material 7 over and about the marginal portions thereof, said material being stitched or otherwise secured to the pieces 3 and 5' as is shown in the Figure 3, and

such pieces being furthermore fixedly interconnected by rows of stitching 8 passing through and over the same. Hinged connection between the seat sections 1 and 1 is made through the medium of fabric strip or hinge 13, the opposite side portions of which are stitched or otherwise connected as at 14 to the adjacent sides of the sections. The free side of the section 1 is provided with a series of eyelets 9, corresponding in arrangement to the eyelets 9 of the section 1.

A second sheet-like body back section 2 is also provided the construction and as will be noted upon reference to the accompanying drawings, said section is complemental to the back section 2, being constructed of straw matting and fabric pieces 4 and 6', arranged in imposed relation and interconnected by engaging binding material '7 over and about their marginal portions and stitching or otherwise securing said binding material thereto. Pieces 4' and 6' of the section 2 may be also further interconnected by passing rows of stitching 8 therethrough, as is clearly illustrated in the Figure 3. Detachable hinged or swingable connection between the sections 2 and r 2' is effected through the medium of a fabric strip or piece 15 stitched to one side of the section 2, as at 16, and having a series of separable fasteners or snap fastener elements 17 arranged in its opposite or free extremity. The separable fastener elements 17 are adapted to be optionally engaged With companionate or co-operating separable fastener elements 18 and 19 which are fixedly arranged upon the adjacent side porticns of the section 2. The normally outer side of the section 2 is provided with a series of eyelets corresponding in positioning or arrangement to the eyelets 10 of the section 2.

It will be thus seen that hinged or swingable connection between the seat sections 1 and 1' and the back sections 2 and 2 will be effected through the fabric pieces 13 and respectively.

When the complemental sections 1 and 1 and 2 and 2' are arranged in relatively overlying or imposed relationship in the manner as is shown in the Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5, lacings 20 and 21 are passed through the registering series of eyelets 9 and 9 and 10 and 10', hence, affording means for detachably interconnecting these complemental sections and preventing undesirable relative movement therebetween.

The improved shield may be arranged in various ways, when in use, whereby to provide different arrangements or combinations of arrangements of the straw matting and fabric surfaces thereof. In this connection, it will be noted, upon reference to the Figures 1 and 6, that the seat and back sections of the device are folded one over the other, that is, they are arranged in relatively imposed relation, and in such position, the straw matting surfaces or pieces 3 and 4 are exposed. Relative movement between the complemental sections 1 and l and 2 and 2 is prevented by means of the lacings 20 and 21,- as hereinbefore described. An all-over matting seat shield or pad is thus provided for the seat S and its back 13, the fabric piece 11 serving as a means of connection between the seat and back sections, in that the separable fastener carrying portion thereof is engaged with the adjacent co-operating separable fastener elements upon the corresponding side of the back section 2.

' Should it be desired to adjust the shield so that the same provides a fabric exposed seat section and a matting exposed back section, as illustrated in Figure 6 the lacing 20 is removed from the eyelets 9 and 9', whereupon the section 1 is swung to a reversed position with respect to the section 1', that is, beneath said section 1, rather than above the same, as in the form illustrated in the Figures 1 and 6. At this time, the fabric side or surface of the seat section 2 will be exposed and, of course, to prevent relative movement as between the sections 2 and 2 the lacing 20 is engaged with the re-regist-ered eyelets 9 and 9.

Should it be desired to adjust the shield whereby fabric surfaces wiil be exposed by both seat and back sections, as illustrated in the Figure 6 the arrangement of the seat sections 2 and 2', as described in connection with the Figure 6 is undisturbed. However, the lacing 21 of the back sections 2 and 2 is removed and thereupon, the section 2' is swung to a position reversed from that illustrated in the Figure 6 ,'hence, exposing the fabric covered side 6 of the section 2. It will be understood that the sections 2 and 2' are now in relatively imposed relation and to secure them against undesirable relative movement, the lacing 21 is re-engaged with the re-registered eyelets 10 and 10.

In the Figure 6 I have shown a still further arrangement or adjustment of the improved seat shield, wherein the seat section exposes a matting surface and the back section exposes a fabric surface. This arrangement is accomplished by first reversing the relative arrangement or positioning of the seat sections 1 and 1 from that as illustrated in the Figure 6 to the arrangement illustrated in the Figures 1 and 6; it being understood, of course, that the lacing 20 must first be removed from the eyelets 9 and 9 to permit th'is reversed positioning or arrangement of the seat sections and that when such reversal hasv been effected, the lacing 20 is re-engaged with the re registered eyelets 9 and 9. The positioning of the back sections of the shield, in this particular adjustment, is not changed from that as disclosed in the Figure 6 During usage of my improved shield, it may become desirable or necessary to extend the same whereby it will afford a seat and back shield for a second seat S and its back B, as is illustrated in the Figures 1 and 2. Such adaptions of the invention may be readily made by merely removing the lacings 20 and 21 from the relatively imposed sections 1 and 1 and 2 and 2. Thereupon, the sections 1 and 2 are swung in a hinged manner with respect to their complemental sections 1 and 2 from the position as shown in Figure 1 to the position shown in Figure 2. It is to be understood that the exposed seating surfaces of the extended shield, to wit, sections 1 and 1 and likewise, the back sections 2 and 2 may be positioned so as to provide an all-over exposureof straw matting or fabric or combinations thereof, as may be desired by the users.

In the Figure '7, the seat sections 1 and 1 are shown in their extended or juxtaposed positions with the fabric sides 5 and 5 exposed; the sections being interconnected through the medium of the fabric piece or hinge 13, which, as will be noted, loosely spans the space between the seats S and S, and consequently thereupon, allows for relative movement as between said sections.

In the Figure 8, the seat sections 1 and 1' are shown in a position reversed to that disclosed in the Figure '7. In such position, it will be noted that the straw matting pieces or sides 3 and 3 of the sections 1 and 1, respectively, are exposed, and by consequence, provide an all-over straw matting seat shield.

In the Figures 9, 10 and 11, I have illustrated different arrangements of the back sections of the improved shield. In the Figure 9, it will be noted that the back sections 2 and 2 are arranged in a manner whereby the straw matting pieces or sides 4 and 4 thereof are exposed, thus providing what may be termed as an all-over straw matting back shield or pad; the'fabric sides 6 and 6 of the back sections 2 and 2 contacting directly with the adjacent surfaces of the seat backs B and B. It is to be understood, in this connection, that the extended back sections are hingedly or swingably interconnected by means of the fabric hinge or piece 15, having one side stitched or similarly connected to the section 2 as at 16, and its remaining or free side detachably connected to the adjacent side of the section 2 through the medium of the hereinbefore described separable fastener devices. Said fabric hinge 15 loosely spans the space between the backs B and B, so as to permit of relative movement as between the sections 2 and 2 during usage.

In the Figure 10, the position of the back sections 2 and 2 has been reversed with respect to that illustrated in the Figure 9. In this particular figure, it will be noted that the fabric sides or pieces 6 and 6 are exposed, whereas the straw matting sides 4 and 4 are directly adjacent the shielded surfaces of the backs B and B.

In the Figure 11, still another arrangement of the back sections 2 and 2' is illustrated. In this particular arrangement, the section 2 has the fabric side or piece 6 thereof exposed, whereas the section 2 has its straw matting side 4 exposed, thus giving a combination of fabric and matting; Obviously, this combination arrangement as between the back sections may be reversed, merely by disconnecting the separable fasteners 12 of the fabric hinge 11 from the previously engaged companionate fastener elements, then, inverting the positioning of the sections 2 and 2 so thatthe fastener elements 12' are brought into positions adjacent to the co-operating fastener elements upon the hinge or piece 11, whereby they may be engaged with the same. It is. to be also noted that by reason of the arrangement of the fastener elements 18 and 19 upon one side of the back section 2, the sections 2 and 2 may be reversed in their arrangement with respect to each other, as indicated in the Figures 10 and 11, whereby the adjacent fastener elements 18 or 19 may be detachably engaged with the co-operable fastener elements 17 carried upon the free side of the fabric hinge 15. 7

From the foregoing, it will be understood by workers skilled in this art, that I have provided a seat shield or pad capable of being used to shield a single seat or a double seat, or two separate or juxtaposed seats, such for example, as are found in certain types of automobile bodies. Furthermore, by reason of the construction of the improved device and the manner in which the seat and back sections thereof are detachably interconnected, said sections may be adjusted or arranged so as to expose all-over straw matting or fabric seating surfaces, or if desired, combinations of straw matting and fabric surfaces.

Manifestly, the constructions shown are capable of considerable modification, and such modification as is within the scope of my claims, I consider within the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A seat shield of the character described comprising a plurality of substantially rectangular bodies of comparatively stiff material, means swingably interconnecting the bodies in pairs to form adjustable united back and seat sections, said means being detachably associated with said sections and adapted for engagement with either of two diametrically opposed sides of the same, strips of flexible material disposed and providing a hinged connection between the back sections and between the seat sections so that said bodies may be arranged in juxtaposed relation to cover a double seat and in superimposed relation to cover a single seat, one of said strips having detachable engagement with one of its adjacent sections whereby the bodies may be brought in superimposed relation with either of their surfaces facing one another to selectively expose either of their surfaces.

2. A seat shield of the character described comprising a plurality of substantially rectangular bodies of comparatively stiff material and having different characters of coverings upon the respective surfaces thereof, means swingably interconnecting the bodies in pairs to form adjustably united back and seat sections, said means being detachably associated with said sections and adapted for engagement with either of two diametrically opposed sides of the same, strips of flexible material disposed and providing a hinge connection between the back sections and between the seat sections so that said bodies may be arranged in juxtaposed relation to cover a double seat and in superimposed relation to cover a single seat, one of said strips having detachable engagement with one of its adjacent sections whereby the bodies may be brought in superimposed relation with either of their surfaces facing one another to selectively expose either of their different characters of covering.

3. A seat shield of the character described comprising a plurality of substantially rectangular bodies of comparatively stiff material and having different characters of coverings upon the reconnection between the back sections and between the seat sections so that said bodies may be arranged in juxtaposed relation to cover a double seat and in superimposed relation to cover a single seat, one of said strips having detachable engagement with one of its adjacent sections whereby the bodies may be brought in superimposed relation with either of their surfaces facing one another to selectively expose either of their different characters of covering, and means upon the free extremity of said bodies for interconnecting and retaining the same when positioned in superimposed relation.

EDWARD WITTCOFF.

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